i would liken her to a swan
the way she dips her neck
low
towards me
hisses territorially
in the same instant
i’m both glowed
awestruck
at her appearance in my mirror
i would liken her to swan
i say “liken” because
that’s not really her
is it?
she’s fragile yet strong
slender yet fills a room
she’s light
she’s day
i never really know
when she’ll appear
a silent whistle
in my mirror
in my room
reverberating
in my periphery
when she appears
i always trust her
a mirror cannot lie
to my face
so, if she’s territorial
it’s only because she knows
what men have done
to ruin what makes her
speak
Joshua Williams is a bestselling author of two books of poetry “Joshua Williams in a Week of Suicide(s)” and “love bandit” available on Amazon.com, a journalist, and activist devoted to telling stories surrounding art, culture, and personal expression.